Nearly two percent of America is grassy green. Sure, lawns are beautiful and useful and they smell great. But are the costs — financial, environmental and otherwise — worth the benefits?
Oct 30
693. What’s Our Job as Humans Anymore?
It may just be being human. Stephen Dubner interviews A.I. performer Tilly Norwood to find out if we are as replaceable as we fear. (Part two of a two-part series.) SOURCES:Sean Astin, actor, president of SAG-AFTRA.Kevin Kelly, co-founder of Wired.Ethan Mollick, associate profess ... Show More
57m 32s
Oct 23
692. What Will A.I. Do to (and for) Human Creativity?
Writers, designers, actors, coders, musicians, thinkers — they’re all worried about being replaced by machines. But what if the A.I.s are actually here to help? (Part one of a two-part series.) SOURCES:Sean Astin, actor, president of SAG-AFTRA.Kevin Kelly, co-founder of Wired.Eth ... Show More
59m 9s
Oct 2023
To Be Greener, Get Rid Of Your Grass
Who doesn't love a lush, perfectly manicured grass lawn? It turns out, a lot of people are actively trying to get rid of their lawns, ripping out grass in favor of native plants, vegetables, and flowers to attract pollinators. As the realities of climate change become starker, mo ... Show More
14m 40s
Mar 2020
SYSK Distraction Playlist: How Grass Works? Yes, How Grass Works
<p>There’s nothing more boring than watching grass grow, which is why Josh and Chuck aren’t asking you to do that. Instead, you can learn about all sorts of neat things about grass - like how American became obsessed with perfect lawns - in this episode.</p><p> </p> Learn more ab ... Show More
49m 36s
Nov 2025
The Grass and the Furious: Ladies... Start Your (Lawnmower) Engines!
On this episode of Our American Stories, across small-town America, fields that once grew corn and clover now host something unexpected: racing lawn mowers. The smell of fuel mixes with cut grass, and the sound of modified engines echoes across the open air. For Julie Tynmann, th ... Show More
19m 28s
<p>Welcome to the first episode of our podcast! In this episode: Madeline smacks her lips a lot (sorry, we're new to this) and we talk about front lawns, community spaces, geodesic domes, and the housing crisis. </p>
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